June 5, 2009Soulive at the TLA.

Long admired for their rollicking jazz-funk fusion grooves and sweaty improv solos, Soulive originated in 90s New England - first as jam band rhythm sections (Moon Boot Lover, Greyboy Allstars, Lettuce), then a brief detour into hip-hop. By 1999, their emphasis shifted to more traditional organ-driven jazz and a core cemented around the trio of the spidery Grant Green-esque guitar lines of Eric Krasno with brothers Alan and Neal Evans leading the way on drums and organ/bass keys/clavinet, respectively. True to their funk forefathers, they have frequently fleshed out their earthy, organic sound with rich horn sections and energetic guest vocalists.

During their first summer as a band, Soulive independently produced Turn It Out, an auspicious debut that sold a respectable 65,000 copies. The response to Turn It Out scored spots on high profile national tours with the Stones, Maceo Parker, Dave Matthews, The Roots, and Common as well as on the festival circuit - Bonnaroo and Monterey Jazz. Utimately, Soulive inked a deal with Blue Note. During their Blue Note years, they amassed fervent devotees through collaborations with legendary James Brown trombonist Fred Wesley, guest vocalists Dave Matthews and Amel Larrieux, rappers Talib Kweli and Black Thought, and remixes with Jurassic 5, DJ Spinna, DJ Krush and the Beatnuts. Departing Blue Note in 2005 for Concord Records and Stax, Soulive crafted new jams with a who's who of jazz, funk and rock - Chaka Khan, Ivan Neville, Corey Glover and Robert Randolph - and experimented with less free-form, more beat-driven songs.

Soulive have returned to form with their latest album Up Here, due out in July. Wowing crowds with meaty instrumentals and a stellar horn section, Soulive will hit the World Cafe Live for XPN's Free at Noon/NPR Live Friday on June 5. Get ready to dance!